Perlite vs. Vermiculite?

[Horse with no Name]

What is the difference?

[XemaSab]

1. What do you mean, what is the difference?

They're two totally different minerals. :shrug:

[Horse with no Name]

2. Sorry I got called in to work last night after I posted that

I was wondering what the difference is in planting boxes...the mix I have calls for 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat moss.
I cannot find vermiculite, but Perlite is plentiful.
So, I was wondering if there was a huge difference in planting boxes.
Thanks!

[hippywife]

3. Check some of the large nurseries

in your area. That's where we found ours last year. We actually didn't add it to any of our new boxes this year and it's not a problem. It basically keeps your soil loose and friable, helps maintain moisture, too. But if you mulch, that helps maintain moisture, too.

[Horse with no Name]

5. Thanks!

Great tip.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I used perlite in my mix, at the same rate...

seems to work well. :)

[Kolesar]

4. Vermiculite is from puffed mica and is a source of magnesium

You could interchange perlite and vermiculite in your recipe.

[Horse with no Name]

6. Thank you thank you thank you

This is what I was hoping for.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

8. Is vermiculite safe?

My son informed me that the way vermiculite is mined it can often contain asbestos. I know it's more a danger in home insulation, but it makes me shy away from it in my garden.

[XemaSab]

9. Wear a mask when pouring it and keep it damp

and you shouldn't have a problem.

[druidity33]

10. from the Wiki...

Asbestos contamination

Although not all vermiculite contains asbestos, some products were made with vermiculite that contained asbestos until the early 1990s. Vermiculite mines throughout the world are now regularly tested for it and are supposed to sell products that contain no asbestos. The former vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, did have tremolite asbestos as well at winchite and richterite (both fibrous amphiboles) — in fact, it was formed underground through essentially the same geologic processes as the contaminants. A vermiculite mine in Virginia has also been found to be contaminated by asbestos.<3>

Pure vermiculite does not contain asbestos and is non-toxic, but it can become contaminated over long periods if there is a presence of a secondary mineral called diopside. After millions of years of weatherization, the biotite turns into vermiculite and the diopside turns into asbestos.



Silly me... i thought it had something to do with worms. "Vermi-" as in vermiculture seemed like a dead giveaway. I guess you can't always depend on English...

:)